MOSCOW, November 25 (RIA Novosti) - Diamonds worth more than $28 million were sold at the 11th international auction for special-sized diamonds, which ended Thursday, Russia's biggest diamond producer Alrosa said Friday.
The auction, arranged by Alrosa in collaboration with the Russian Diamond Chamber, was attended by representatives from 37 gem companies from Russia, Israel, Belgium, India, Switzerland, China, the United States and Belarus.
A hundred and thirty-eight boxes (963 gems) weighing more than 15,600 carats, including five extra-large stones that came in at more than 50 carats, were put up for auction. The largest diamond in the auction weighed 110.86 carats.
Alrosa, one of the world's largest diamond producers, accounts for an estimated 20% of the global diamond output. The company produced $2.1 billion worth of diamonds and $130.4 million worth of precious stones in 2004.
The Russian Ministry of Property has a 37% stake in Alrosa, while the Ministry of State Property Management of the Republic of Sakha holds a 32% stake, and the company's staff, 23%. Eight Yakutian regions own 8% of the company's shares.
The next international auction is scheduled for early 2006.
